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Seminoles must contend with noisy Memorial Stadium

By Brad Milner | News Herald Writer

Published: Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at 10:49 PM.

National spotlight: Fisher has strived to bring FSU back to the place of national prominence it enjoyed at the height of Bobby Bowden’s tenure. Signs are pointing to success in the quest with FSU finishing No. 10 last season with its second 10-win season under Fisher. Tuesday was another indicator the Seminoles are being noticed.

ESPN produced its “Inside the Program” in Tallahassee with live look-ins and updates throughout the day. Viewers were treated to tours of the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility and Fisher’s office, vignettes of players working out in the weight room and live segments with running backs Devonta Freeman and James Wilder Jr.

Fisher said the added exposure only enhances the big-program feel.

“It’s great because you get accessibility, people get to see what’s going on inside,” Fisher said. “It’s great for us because people know we’re a program that makes a difference again, we’re back in the national limelight and it’s great to show the place off.”

Thursday’s ACC matchup: Miami (5-0, 1-0) is at North Carolina (1-4, 0-2) in Thursday’s ESPN game. Both teams are fresh off open weeks, which came at opportune and inopportune times for each.

The Tar Heels have lost three in a row, including suffering a drubbing against East Carolina (55-31) Sept. 28. North Carolina has dipped to the bottom of the Coastal Division standings and could be bolstered by history, as Miami is 1-4 all-time in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Hurricanes rose to No. 10 in the polls for the first time since 2009. They haven’t been tested since a five-point victory over Florida Sept. 7 with their past three wins coming by an average score of 57-19. Miami’s momentum and seven straight wins dating back to last season might have been quelled some by the off week.

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State has played on the road twice this season, but the Seminoles haven’t faced a crowd quite like the one Clemson will provide.

The fifth-ranked Seminoles face the No. 3 Tigers on Saturday in a 7 p.m. CDT game that will be broadcast nationally on ABC. It’s a safe bet Clemson’s Memorial Stadium will be at or more than its 81,500 capacity, a figure that ranks 20th among Football Bowl Subdivision schools. The venue also has been listed among the Top 10 loudest stadiums in the country.

FSU (5-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) has played at Heinz Field, an NFL stadium also home to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Boston College’s quaint Alumni Stadium, which holds a little more than 44,000. The Seminoles won both games but required rallies to do so, including rebounding from a 17-3 deficit against the Eagles Sept. 28.

Preparation in a loud environment with the help of added noise during practice and starting fast will be important for the Seminoles, who haven’t won at Clemson since 2001. The Tigers (6-0, 4-0) and their faithful will be even more boisterous and ready given the implications of the game.

“This is what we do every Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday when we’re on the road. It’s no different than what we did for Pitt, or anywhere else,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. “Same issue you have, (you have to) get used to getting back into it again.”

“Usually, it makes you practice better because guys have to focus more, they have to concentrate more. Believe it or not, your practices usually become better when they’re really locked in.”

Focus on the road has sometimes been in question during Fisher’s tenure despite his 12-5 mark away from Tallahassee. FSU has lost at least one road game in each of his three-plus seasons, but it has won five straight away contests since a 17-16 loss to North Carolina State on Oct. 6, 2012.

National spotlight: Fisher has strived to bring FSU back to the place of national prominence it enjoyed at the height of Bobby Bowden’s tenure. Signs are pointing to success in the quest with FSU finishing No. 10 last season with its second 10-win season under Fisher. Tuesday was another indicator the Seminoles are being noticed.

ESPN produced its “Inside the Program” in Tallahassee with live look-ins and updates throughout the day. Viewers were treated to tours of the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility and Fisher’s office, vignettes of players working out in the weight room and live segments with running backs Devonta Freeman and James Wilder Jr.

Fisher said the added exposure only enhances the big-program feel.

“It’s great because you get accessibility, people get to see what’s going on inside,” Fisher said. “It’s great for us because people know we’re a program that makes a difference again, we’re back in the national limelight and it’s great to show the place off.”

Thursday’s ACC matchup: Miami (5-0, 1-0) is at North Carolina (1-4, 0-2) in Thursday’s ESPN game. Both teams are fresh off open weeks, which came at opportune and inopportune times for each.

The Tar Heels have lost three in a row, including suffering a drubbing against East Carolina (55-31) Sept. 28. North Carolina has dipped to the bottom of the Coastal Division standings and could be bolstered by history, as Miami is 1-4 all-time in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Hurricanes rose to No. 10 in the polls for the first time since 2009. They haven’t been tested since a five-point victory over Florida Sept. 7 with their past three wins coming by an average score of 57-19. Miami’s momentum and seven straight wins dating back to last season might have been quelled some by the off week.

Momentum could be gained quickly given Miami is second in the ACC with 45 points per game, while North Carolina surrenders a conference-high 31 a contest. Miami is third in total offense at 488 yards per game and North Carolina yields 436 a contest, also worst in the ACC.